I never considered myself to be much of an addictive personality type, but recently I found myself very very attached to my phone. While I was brushing my teeth I was checking my email, while I was scrambling eggs for Claire I was liking statuses on Facebook & while I was checking out at BevMo I was scrolling like a fiend through Instagram and I just got really grossed out. I remembered when I was in high school and I was this way with my Livejournal & then eventually Myspace and I don't want to be back there, spending hours making html for my webpages instead of doing something more satisfying. I kept telling myself that a Facebook break was going to happen soon, but first Latch & Link and then Claire's 2nd birthday and then finally it was time.

Now I don't mean to get ahead of myself and sound like I have deleted all social media and that you can't find me daily on Instagram haha [don't be crazy] BUT I deleted the Facebook app off my phone, I signed out of all browsers at all my salons, & off my internet browser on my phone/at home. This felt like way too big of a process which showed me how even more needed this was. Then it was time to decide how I was gonna do it, my sister & my gf both give their passwords to someone else so that they can change it for them and its impossible for them to sign on. I didn't want to do that because I really like all my passwords haha I finally have them all memorized and I didn't want to start over so I just signed off. I am embarrassed by how hard this was at first but after day 1 it was much easier and I had decided 7 days of no Facebook was my goal and I made it. I didn't log on once, I wanted to and those stupid notification emails from Facebook did not help. How did I forget to turn those off? lol after 99 notifications it stopped letting me know but who sent that message?! who was the friend request from!? I was dying to know. But I did it.

Once I signed back on it was kind of awful. I couldn't get through the notifications, there were way too many. I felt anxious within a few minutes and had to log off with a headache, so I decided I wont be downloading the app for my phone and I probably wont be on even a tenth of what I used to be on and I am super happy about how the Facebook break went. My girlfriend asked if I felt out of the loop and I totally did. I have no idea what is happening with a lot of people that I used to catch up with regularly on there but I am making a more conscious effort to call my friends and to text them. I am hoping this leads to more real connections.

I wanted to mostly get on here and say how happy I am about the changed this made for my family. The change was almost immediately seen in Claire. She no longer wants my phone, she has drastically reduced her tantrums and I feel so much more connected with her. I find myself no longer feelings frustrated as often as I did before which is a huge blessing for all of us. I get way more cuddles in, more kisses and we all seem to be sleeping better. I am able to set my phone down, walk away and have a tea party with my daughter. I have a lot less pictures of her but if its because I am not using one hand to always be on my phone then its ok. I feel more productive and like my time has been used in more meaningful ways. Ryan & I always say we are going to be on our phones less at night and we are still working on that but the improvement is noticeable and I am really really pleased.

So if I have missed an important life event because of my lack of being online please give me a call, I would love to chat and even though my "likes" have hugely been cut back please know I still love the updates I do see when I randomly sign on. I know many of my friends rarely use their social media and this may seem real silly haha but it was a big one for me and if you have tips on how you let it all go please send them my way.

This weekend was a busy one and the whole time I found myself surrounded by other moms. It was really great to watch moms playing with their kids, moms having a night out, moms disciplining their kids and everything in between. Being a mama can get lonely and tiring but when you have other mamas in your life to bounce ideas off of, to take turns with and to cheers on those nights out - it can make all the difference. I'm so thankful for the tribe of women I get to parent alongside, I'm learning so much.We all do this thing a little different because our children are different and if we all strive to bring each other up instead of judging one another this will all be more fun.

Claire. There is no way I could put into words all the things that Claire makes me feel and what she teaches me but I can say that she is my greatest adventure.

We work through each day together, whether we are having a tough day or an all smilies day the three of us lean on each other and talk through it all. At 2 years old we are asking a lot of her, we want her to be kind, generous, flexible and true to herself. All of those things take a very long time to learn and we are all trying to make each day a happy one and work together. At 2 years old I am amazed at her curious nature and her love of making people laugh. Being a parent is hard work but I am thankful that I get to do this with Claire. I am thankful that the child I get to raise is a little baby lady who likes to play games, who enjoys eating while laying on the floor and is already starting to be a practical joker.

Her birthday party last weekend was such a blast, thank you is not enough! Here is everyone who helped make the day happen- Claire: for being born- Ryan: for being the daddy- My mom & dad: All the jello shots that were such a huge huge hit I know they took a lot of work but they were delicious and the yummy beer marge that went quick! everyone loved them and appreciate all of the hard work.- Todd & Dana: That guacamole & salsa cannot be beat! People gobbled it all up and I am still eating it now, so flavorful! We are very thankful!- Erica: Man, you have to check out the cuppies they were not only adorable but they were so tasty - 60 cupcakes do not just get made that takes a lot of work and it was appreciated!- Melissa: You surprised us!! You made our day, I am so glad you all were able to keep such a huge secret and I am so glad I ran into you in the elevator - Claire will always hear about how you did that!Leigh: You made a promise that you would be at all of her birthdays and I know she will always remember that, and thanks for your help at the party.- David: I hear you are like a tetris master thank you for making sure all of the food was delivered haha - Meagan - Your oreo balls are still making us all smile, so good and eventually I will have to give up sugar because of these haha

TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS: You made her party just the right amount of fun, so fun Claire napped through it haha. Thank you for loving our daughter so much that you come out on a hot August day to play with a ton of little kiddos & shower her with love. She is such a lucky lady to have you all in her life and so are wexoxo

Today was a busy day of celebrations! We woke up to balloons and presents while we ate our birthday breakfast. Auntie Leigh & Claire went over to the aquarium - hugged penguins and spent the morning checking out the fishies [they swim swim swim btw, Claire told me] then we took a 2 hour nap before our thai food lunch date. It was really nice to take a half day because we also had to squeeze in a doctor appointment and I wanted to make sure Claire felt special today.

This is the first day of my lifeI'm glad I didn't die before I met youBut, now I don't care, I could go anywhere with youAnd I'd probably be happy.

I don't tell my husband how much I appreciate him enough, I say it a lot, but I am sure I could always say it more. When Ryan and I were dating we had so much time; time to talk about our days, time to have long dinner dates with too many drinks, and time to just do whatever the hell we wanted. When Ryan and I first got married we still had a lot of time, there was always enough wine and enough time to have 10 of our friends over on a Monday night, we had time to go see any new movie we wanted and we had time to run off for a weekend away. Now that we have a child time has a different meaning. I cherish it so much more. I want more hours in the day to fill them with Ryan because it can be hard for both of us to unwrap ourselves from our daughter to just be us. Now let me first say we are both so in love and happy to roll on the floor with our babe but this post isn't about Claire.. All of my other posts are. This one is for us.

Ryan, I love you. I am so happy to have you. You bring me a smile every single day and I do not think I would love this life as much if I did not have you to share it with. xo

Last weekend Ryan and I got to have a little date night at Delius, it was not only delicious but it was long and we didn't need to check our phones or order quickly. We ordered appetizer after appetizer and just caught up. It was beautiful and I want to do that so much more. Weekly date nights start today and I am SO EXCITED. It isn't feasible for us to go out every single week so we are bringing the date night to our own little home. Once Claire goes to bed instead of cleaning the house, paying bills, staring at our phones we will do something for us. Whether its sit on our patio and talk or pull out an old favorite game, we will just focus on each other, our wine and yummy bites. We are also planning on going a little bit more into hermit mode, less group plans and more cuddling at home. Recharging ourselves is just as important as giving to our communities and seeing friends, plus with the money we save we can take a vacation!

These pictures were take a few weeks ago we took our family photos for Claire's 2nd birthday and I really wanted to get some pictures of just the two of us, I am so thankful I did. Helloha Photography knows us so well and it was fun to capture a few with just my husband.

How do you and your partner make sure to stay connected? Any fun at home date night ideas are welcomexoNikol